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want
that for you.”
    Georgia sighed and gave her sister’s hand a pat. “I know. But
you don’t get to decide that, Laura. And we’re not going to crash and burn.
We’re just…”
    “…yeah?”
    “I was going to say we’re just lovers.”
    “There’s no ‘just’ about it for you, Georgia,” Laura sputtered.
“Not for either one of us. We’re not built that way. We don’t do ‘easy.’”
    “I know that, too,” Georgia argued, “but I did the cautious
thing for years, and what did it get me? I thought Mike was the one, remember?
Did everything right. Dated for two years, was engaged for one of those two. Big
wedding, nice house, working together to build something, and what
happened?”
    Laura winced.
    Georgia saw it and nodded. “Exactly. Mike runs off with Misty,
who, if she had two thoughts running around in that tiny brain of hers, would
rattle like BBs in a jar.”
    Laura smiled, but sadly. “That’s no reason to jump into
something with a man like Sean.”
    Suddenly forced to defend the man she was currently sleeping
with, Georgia said, “What does that mean, ‘a man like Sean’? He’s charming and
treats me great. We have fun together, and that’s all either one of us is
looking for.”
    “For now.”
    Georgia shook her head and smiled. “All I’m interested in at
the moment is ‘for now,’ Laura. I did the whole cautious thing for way too long.
Maybe it’s time to cut loose a little. Stop thinking nonstop about the future
and just enjoy today.”
    A long moment passed before Laura sighed and said, “Maybe
you’re right. Sean is a sweetie, but Georgia—”
    “Don’t worry,” she said, holding up one hand to stave off any
more advice. “I’m not looking for marriage and family. I don’t know that I ever
will.”
    “Of course you will,” Laura told her, sympathy and
understanding shining in her eyes. “That’s who you are. But if this is what you
need right now, I’m on your side.”
    “Thanks. And,” Georgia added, “as long as we’re talking about
this, you should know that last night Sean asked me to help him out.”
    In a few short sentences, she explained Sean’s plan and watched
Laura’s mouth drop open. “You can’t be serious.”
    “I think I am.”
    “Let me count the ways this could go bad.”
    “Do me a favor and don’t, okay?” Georgia glanced down at her
email and idly deleted a couple of the latest letters from people offering to
send her the winnings to contests she’d never entered. “I’ve thought about it,
and I understand why he’s doing it.”
    “So do I. That doesn’t make it a good idea.”
    “What’s not a good idea?” Ronan asked, as he walked into the
room and paused long enough to kiss his wife good morning before reaching out to
grab a cup and pour himself some coffee.
    “Your idiot cousin,” Laura started, firing a glare at her
husband as if this were all his fault, “wants my sister to pretend they’re
engaged.”
    While Laura filled Ronan in, Georgia sat back and concentrated
on her coffee. She had a feeling she was going to need all the caffeine she
could get.

Five
    W hen Laura finally wound down and sat in
her chair, alternately glowering at Ronan and then her sister, Georgia finally
spoke up.
    “Sean can sell me a cottage,” she said calmly. “He can help
push through my business license and speed things up along the bureaucratic
conga line.”
    “Ronan can do that, too, you know.”
    “I know he can,” Georgia said with a smile for her
brother-in-law. “Sean’s already volunteered.”
    “And…” Laura said.
    “And what?”
    “And you’re already lovers, so this is going to complicate
things.”
    “Oh,” Ronan muttered, “when did that happen? No. Never mind. I
don’t need to know this.”
    “It’s not going to get complicated,” Georgia insisted.
    “Everything gets complicated,” Laura argued. “Heck, look at me!
I broke up with Ronan last year, remember? Now here I sit, in Ireland,